It's been just two days over a year since Shasu dropped the WN with chapter 103 and today J-Novel Club just released Part 2 Volume 3 which is two volumes ahead of that (it goes up to WN chapter 153 and note that the trash on the NovelUpdates page only goes up to WN chapter 118 and not 139 as it claims: they're only about halfway into Part 2 Volume 2). Here is the description: An immense display of mana in front of the Knight’s Order has earned Myne the attention of nobles. The result? Yet more people appear hoping to exploit the young apprentice shrine maiden’s value. And so the High Priest decides to shelter Myne in the temple to safeguard her from the impending danger he foresees. But Myne’s main concern is still books, and she works to advance the printing process so that their price falls and more people can buy them. Her long winter in the temple away from her family begins, but everything changes as the harsh winter passes and the spring nears, offering a glimpse into what the future holds for this biblio-fantasy. Spoiler: Colour Insert (which apparently the mods think is a spoiler) When looking through the eBook it surprised me that the Ehrenfest Duchy map was revealed this early in the story, I had thought it was only given in Part 3. Spoiler: Ehrenfest Duchy Map The Part 2 Volume 4 free preview (containing two LN exclusive chapters and WN chapter 154) is also there but I wouldn't recommend reading it due to how foreboding it is and similarly can't recommend reading the volume description either. For J-Novel Club members they should have already translated half of Part 2 Volume 4 twelve hours from now.
It make sense because of Myne's participation in the rituals requiring her to travel within Ehrenfest, beyond the city border. What is surprising is the amount of future information they put into the map. Border gate Country border gate Partial shape of the country (but easy to extraporate) Well, 3rd point is impossible to hide, since Ehrenfest is a border touching duchy. But still, shape of the country being circle is not mentioned until chapter 539 (haven't made to LN yet), when Rosemyne see the border and country border gate for the first time with her own eyes. And still, she just casually narrate that "I know that the shape of the country is round as we learned in the geography class, but this is the first time I see it myself." Also Border gate is not mentioned until chapter 366 (LN P4V5), when Rosemyne conduct inter-duchy marriage ceremony at the gate. I don't know if it is general WN to LN tendency, but through the LN publication of this series, they continue to add lots of "teaser" into the text and the graphics, often something like these which will not be explained for more than 20 volumes down the road. For shorter span, they started to mention シュタープ (stap), the formal name of the wand (or universal magic tool) in the side stories in P2V3 without explaining what it is, and for Myne's POV she continue calling them "wand" (or タクト in Japanese, which is specific reference to music conductor's wand) in her mind and would not learn the proper terminology until P3V1. I wonder if such changes are marketing tactics to make people more anxious of future books to arrive.
@bittervalley1 Date wise it's fun to note that WN chapter 539 came out in 2016-03-16 and LN Part 2 Volume 3 came out on 2016-03-25.
A short discussion about the world building in Ascendance of a Bookworm (with lots of clips from the anime):
Goddamit. It had been two months since Flying Lines released anything for Bookworm, so I hoped that they had finally given up on it. But nope. On the same day that the official translations started Part 3 they release another mangled chapter. I don’t know what’s more annoying that they still haven’t given up or that there are actually people thankful for their releases.
lel with anime launched popularity raise so idk why they shoud give up those who grateful either cuz they can read translated one free, dunno it mingled or mix of them~
Just a few days after the anime ended (which went up to the Part 2 Volume 3 Prologue) we have the English eBook for Part 2 Volume 4 come out. This volumes wraps up Part 2 of the LN and covers web novel chapters 154 to 172. Here is the description: The long winter comes to an end and vibrant spring returns to Ehrenfest. The temple swirls busily as attempts to control Myne's future escalate and the High Bishop, fueled by hate, shrouds the city in the darkness of his nefarious plots. But Myne just wants everything to stay the same. Her little brother has been born, she's making new books thanks to her progress making ink, and she wants nothing more than to just keep spending more heart-warming time with her family and friends. The world, however, forces her to make a cruel and unbearable decision. To protect those she loves, she must begin walking a new road. Part two of this biblio-fantasy concludes in this heart-wrenching volume! There's a collection of short stories following the shocking climax, as well as two completely original short stories and a four-panel manga drawn by You Shiina. Spoiler On the publisher's website you can read five eighths of Part 3 Volume 1 if you're a subscriber (which covers up to web novel chapter 189), but even if you don't want to subscribe then you can read the first three chapters for free.
So today is the day that we finally enter into Part 3 for English readers! The digital version of Part 3 Volume 1 is official out in English and here's the description: Following a disastrous encounter with a noble, Myne finally resolves to say goodbye to her family and friends in the lower city, changing her name to “Rozemyne” and beginning her new life as the adopted daughter of Ehrenfest’s archduke. However, her days as an archnoble in noble society are brutal, as she is put through rigorous etiquette and magic training on top of her duties as High Bishop and forewoman. It all proves too much for a weak little seven-year-old girl... Or it would have, had the High Priest not offered her the keys to the temple’s book room as a reward. If she could get her hands on those, she’d be able to read all sorts of precious books! Her name may have changed, but Rozemyne’s passion for books remains the same as she charges into a whole new world! The detailed setting expands as the printing industry grows in size. Here begins Part 3 of this bibliofantasy for book lovers everywhere! Spoiler: Colour Insert (which apparently the mods think is a spoiler) This volume also included the results from the Japanese character popularity poll that was held after Part 2 Volume 4 was originally released. Spoiler: The 1st Ascendance of a Bookworm Character Poll As usual if you head over to the publisher's website you can read the first three chapters of the next book, Part 3 Volume 2, for free. Here's the link.
The digital version of the English translation of Part 3 Volume 2 came out today which means at long last English readers can able to read the novel version of Justus's Grand Lower City Infiltration which was adapted into the first half of the OVA back in March. Here is the description: Rozemyne, now both the High Bishop and the archduke’s adopted daughter, finds herself lost in a position of power she just isn’t used to. Preparing for the Harvest Festival, taking care of new orphans, dealing with the dissatisfaction of a neighboring town—her list of problems just keeps on growing. On top of all that, Ferdinand the High Priest is being as harsh as can be. Still, Rozemyne doesn’t give up! Encouraged by meetings with her lower city family and friends, she recharges by reading books in the temple! She’ll need as much energy as she can get as the yearly Night of Schutzaria is fast approaching, where Rozemyne will need to travel to the forest bordering Dorvan to gather materials... This is the most action-packed volume of this biblio-fantasy yet! Being the High Bishop is hard, okay?! Spoiler: Colour Insert (which apparently the mods think is a spoiler) On the publisher's website you can read the first three chapters of Part 3 Volume 3 for free.
The digital translation of Part 3 Volume 3 came out today and I don't really have anything to say but this volume wraps up the trouble with Hasse that started some time ago. Here is the description: In the midst of an approaching winter, Rozemyne the High Bishop is traveling between the temple and castle more than ever, participating in noble society, the baptism ceremony, and the Dedication Ritual. With her hands full teaching kids too young for the Royal Academy and even tutoring guard knights with bad grades, she's incomparably busier than last year. Her influence in both noble society and the temple is increasing steadily, and her squad of Gutenbergs work on improving the printing press while she sells picture books in the castle. Her love for books keeps growing, and the mana within her is likewise becoming progressively stronger! She must hunt the Lord of Winter with the Knight's Order, then gather ingredients for her jureve potion during Spring Prayer. This is another action-packed volume of this biblio-fantasy, where the Saint of Ehrenfest overcomes a winter of mysticism and battle! Including two lengthy short stories and a four-panel manga drawn by You Shiina! Spoiler: Colour Insert (which apparently the mods think is a spoiler) The volume also has a nice map at the end of the volume to help visualise where Rozemyne is picking up all these ingredients. Spoiler: Jureve Ingredients Map On the publisher's website you can read the first two chapters of Part 3 Volume 4 for free.
The digital translation of Part 3 Volume 4 came out today. What's nice about this volume is that finally Georgine gets a proper appearance in the story after first being mentioned back in the prologue of Part 2 Volume 4 as an antagonist in waiting. Here is the description: Spring is the season when love blooms! Rozemyne's retainers are bursting with energy as they make clothes, attend their debuts, and shine in the new season. The improved printing press is finally completed in the temple workshop, and the variety of available books is steadily beginning to expand. Picture books, collections of sheet music, knight stories—all are now being sold. Their first aim is to further develop the paper-making industry in preparation for the spread of printing across the entire duchy. To this end, Rozemyne's party travels to Illgner, hoping to teach them how to make paper while also researching new materials to use. As the environment around Rozemyne slowly improves, the archduke's older sister arrives for a visit, shrouding Ehrenfest in an air of unease. Everything changes in this volume of this biblio-fantasy as nobles emotionally clash and the conclusion of Part 3 approaches! Spoiler: Colour Insert (which apparently the mods think is a spoiler) On the publisher's website you can read the first two chapters of Part 3 Volume 5 for free.
The digital translation of Part 3 Volume 5 came out a couple days ago. The end-of-Part stories side stories are really nice for emphasising just how amazing Rozemyne is and what an impact she has had on the lives of others. Here is the description: Rozemyne now only needs a ruelle fruit to brew the jureve potion that will make her a normal, healthy girl. But noble plots are sewing discord within the temple, and what happens next will change her future forever... Rozemyne now only needs the ruelle fruit she failed to gather last year. With it, she and Ferdinand can brew a potent potion known as a jureve, the power of which will finally make her a normal, healthy girl! Well, probably... Her joy leads to a flurry of activity as she pours her all into advancing the paper-making industry and gathering more support, all so that she can create a world with more books for her to read. As the High Bishop, she eventually has to travel through the Central District for the Harvest Festival, and in the midst of all this, she even gets her first little sister. But as everyone prepares for winter, the political struggle between nobles intensifies. Their plots sow discord within the temple, and what happens next will change Rozemyne's future forever... Shocking developments abound in this climactic conclusion to Part 3! Spoiler: Colour Insert (which apparently the mods think is a spoiler) On the publisher's website you can read the first three chapters of Part 4 Volume 1 for free.